Jennifer Jean Hobe Mauro passed away July 9, 2010 in Seattle.

She was born in Fort Atkinson, Wisc. on April 29, 1947.

Jennifer was the first child of Jean and Frederick Hobe. She graduated from the University of Madison with a master’s degree in Italian and French linguistics.

After her studies, she moved to Texas, where she worked as a paralegal and met her future husband, Giuseppe Mauro.

She married in 1980 and shortly thereafter started raising her three children. She lived with her family in California, Italy and Mexico before settling down on Whidbey Island in 1991. Throughout these moves ,she played an integral part in the schooling of her children, passing on her passion for cooking, the arts, classical music, religion and academics.

She enjoyed her years on Whidbey Island, raising her children and watching them grow as they attended the Waldorf School, Scouts, 4-H and high school sports. She was instrumental in the development and running of Trattoria Giuseppe Restaurant starting in 1995, where she shared her joy of cooking. This family project was key in establishing Whidbey Island as her home.

She is survived by her three loving children, Gina, Paolo and Luciano Mauro; her two siblings, Melinda and Matthew Hobe; and former husband, Giuseppe Mauro.

Jennifer will be greatly missed by all whose lives she enriched. Her family will hold a memorial service at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. Please feel free to bring chocolates or cookies and a heart-warming story that you would like to share.